The new Tánaiste says she wishes there were more women holding ministerial office.
Joan Burton was speaking after several backbenchers lashed out at Fine Gael for not appointing more women.
All nine of Fine Gael's junior ministers are male, while two of Labour's six junior ministers are female.
The Tánaiste says she'd like there to be more women in power - but that she's happy Labour is doing its bit.
"His appointments are a matter for Enda Kenny but I've always spoken about the desirability of promoting women, and have women and men in a balance in a whole range of jobs."
"Would I like to see more? Of course the answer is always yes.
"But I'm glad that of the seven women in government at senior level, two now at cabinet table and the Attorney General, that in fact the Labour party has produced far and away the vast majority of those."
However Burton singled out the new Arts minister Heather Humphreys for particular praise, describing her as someone she admired and who she believed to be hard-working.
